Apple tree named ‘Wurtwinning’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Apple tree named ‘Wurtwinning’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; numerous fruit produced per plant; high quality fruits with bright red-colored skin; and resistance to Apple Scab and Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Malus domestica Borkh.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WURTWINNING’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR/APPLICANT &ASSIGNEE:

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Fresh Forward Holding B.V. ofEck en Wiel, The Netherlands on Sep. 14, 2018, application number2018/2360. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/orthe Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a priorart exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or salesprior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effectivefiling date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Appletree, botanically known as Malus domestica Borkh. and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Wurtwinning’.

The new Apple tree is a product of a planned breeding program conductedby the Inventor in Elst, The Netherlands. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new Apple trees that produce high quality fruitsand that are resistant to Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis) which causessevere surface blemishing of the fruit.

The new Apple tree originated from a cross-pollination conducted by theInventor in Elst, The Netherlands in 2004 of Malus domestica Borkh.‘Honeycrisp’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Malus domestica Borkh.identified as code number SQ 159, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Apple tree was discovered and selected by the Inventoras a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollinationgrown in a controlled environment in Elst, The Netherlands in 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Apple tree by grafting in a controlledenvironment in Randwijk, The Netherlands since 2012 has shown that theunique features of this new Apple tree are stable and reproduced true totype in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Apple tree has not been observed under all possible combinationsof environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such astemperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Wurtwinning’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Wurtwinning’ as a new and distinct Apple tree:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Numerous fruit produced per plant.    -   4. High quality fruits with bright red-colored skin.    -   5. Resistant to Apple Scab and Powdery Mildew.

Trees of the new Apple differ primarily from trees of the female parent,‘Honeycrisp’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaves of trees of the new Apple are ovate to elliptic in        shape whereas leaves of trees of ‘Honeycrisp’ are more ovate in        shape.    -   2. Fruits of trees of the new Apple are more red in color than        fruits of trees of ‘Honeycrisp’.    -   3. Fruits of trees of the new Apple do not have stripes whereas        fruits of trees of ‘Honeycrisp’ have stripes.

Trees of the new Apple differ primarily from trees of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Apple are more open in plant habit than        trees of the male parent selection.    -   2. Leaves of trees of the new Apple are lighter green in color        than leaves of trees of the male parent selection.    -   3. Fruits of trees of the new Apple are brighter red in color        than fruits of trees of the male parent selection.

Trees of the new Apple can be compared to trees of Malus domestica‘Elstar’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,450. In side-by-sidecomparisons, trees of the new Apple differ primarily from trees of‘Elstar’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Apple are more open in plant habit than        trees of ‘Elstar’.    -   2. Trees of the new Apple are less flexible than trees of        ‘Elstar’.    -   3. Trees of the new Apple have shorter lateral branches than        trees of ‘Elstar’.

Trees of the new Apple can be compared to trees of Malus domestica‘WUR37’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,397. In side-by-sidecomparisons, trees of the new Apple differ primarily from trees of‘WUR37’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Apple have longer internodes than trees of        ‘WUR37’.    -   2. Leaves of trees of the new Apple are ovate to elliptic in        shape whereas leaves of trees of ‘WUR37’ are more elliptic in        shape.    -   3. Fruits of trees of the new Apple are more vivid red in color        than fruits of trees of ‘WUR37’.    -   4. Fruits of trees of the new Apple are ovoid in shape whereas        fruits of trees of ‘WUR37’ are more obloid in shape.    -   5. Fruits of trees of the new Apple have much longer        postproduction longevity than fruits of trees of ‘WUR37’.    -   6. Trees of the new Apple are more resistant to Apple Scab and        Powdery Mildew than trees of ‘WUR37’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Apple tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possibleto obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Apple tree.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspectiveview of typical trees of ‘Wurtwinning’ grown in an outdoor orchard.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of atypical flowering branch of ‘Wurtwinning’.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3) is a close-up view of typicalfruits of ‘Wurtwinning’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs, following observations and measurementsdescribe trees grown during the summer in Randwijk, The Netherlands inan outdoor orchard and under cultural practices typical of commercialApple tree production. Trees were four years old when the photographsand description were taken. During the production of the trees, daytemperatures ranged from 10° C. to 24° C. and night temperatures rangedfrom 8° C. to 12° C. Measurements and numerical values representaverages for typical trees and tree parts. The actual measurements ofany individual tree or tree parts, or any group of trees or tree parts,of the new Apple tree may vary from the stated average. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Malus domestica Borkh. ‘Wurtwinning’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Malus domestica Borkh.            ‘Honeycrisp’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 7,197.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Malus            domestica Borkh. identified as code number SQ 159, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Typically by grafting onto a rootstock.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth            rate.        -   Tree height.—About three meters.        -   Tree diameter.—About 1 meter to 1.5 meter.        -   Trunk diameter.—About 5 cm to 7 cm.        -   Growth rate.—About 20 cm to 30 cm per year.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 40 cm to 70 cm.            Diameter: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Internode length: About 5 cm            to 12 cm. Strength: Strong, firm. Angle of attachment: About            80° from main trunk axis. Texture: Slightly to very slightly            pubescent, woody and slightly rough. Color: Close to N200A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 7 cm to 10 cm. Width: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Shape: Ovate            to elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Blunt, cordate. Margin:            Serrate. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Texture,            lower surface: Rough, pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate.            Color: Developing and fully developed leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137A; venation, close to 146D. Developing and fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 146D. Petioles: Length: About 4 cm to 6 cm.            Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146D.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single rotate flowers            arranged on panicles; freely flowering habit with about six            to ten flowers per inflorescence; flowers face mostly            outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant, pleasant.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering in April            and May in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two weeks on the plant;            flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 3 cm to 5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 2 cm to 3 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 0.5 cm to 1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1 cm to 2 cm. Diameter: About 1            cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Oval to rounded. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 63A.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically five in a single            whorl; not imbricate. Length: About 1 cm to 1.5 cm. Width:            About 0.5 cm to 1 cm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic. Apex:            Obtuse. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; satiny. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155C            slightly tinged with close to 63D. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 155C flushed with close to            63A.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Width: About 3 mm to            5 mm. Shape: Ovate to somewhat deltoid. Apex: Acute to            obtuse. Base: Cordate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 148B to 148C; at the base and the apex,            close to 187A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60° to            90° from stem. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            147C with spots, close to 187A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About 20 per flower.            Filament length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to 155C.            Anther length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Anther shape: Bi-lobed.            Anther color: Close to 17A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 158A. Pistils: Quantity: About five per            flower. Pistil length: About 1.5 cm. Stigma shape:            Trumpet-shaped. Stigma color: Close to 154A. Style length:            Less than 1 cm. Style color: Close to 150A. Ovary color:            Close to 144A.-   Fruit description:    -   -   Ripening time.—About 160 to 170 days.        -   Postproduction longevity.—About 270 days in cold storage.        -   Yield.—Higher than average; about 20 kg to 25 kg per            container.        -   Use.—Fresh market.        -   Length.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 7 cm to 8 cm.        -   Fruit weight.—Typically individual fruits will weigh between            200 to 300 gr depending on environmental conditions.        -   General shape in profile.—Ovoid.        -   Depth of cavity.—Medium, about 1.2 cm.        -   Width of cavity.—About 3 cm.        -   Fruit stalk length.—Medium to long; about 2.8 cm to 3.2 cm.        -   Fruit stalk diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Fruit stalk color.—Close to 176A.        -   Fruit skin color.—Ground color, more green than 8A, overlain            with close to 46B to 46C.        -   Lenticels.—Quantity: Dense; about 200 per fruit. Length:            About 2 mm to 3 mm.        -   Flesh texture.—Firm, compact.        -   Flesh color.—Close to 10D.        -   Flavor.—Rich, aromatic.        -   Locules.—Quantity per fruit: Five. Length: About 1 cm.            Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovate.        -   Seeds.—Quantity per locule: None to about three depending on            environmental conditions. Length: About 5 mm to 7 mm.            Diameter: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic.            Color: Close to 200A.-   Temperature tolerance: The new Apple tree has been observed to    tolerate temperatures ranging from about −20° C. to about 35° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Trees of the new Apple have been    observed to be resistant to Apple Scab (Venturia inaequalis) and    Powdery Mildew (Podosphaera leucotricha). Trees of the new Apple    have not been observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens    common to Apple trees.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Apple tree named ‘Wurtwinning’ asillustrated and described.